Filming has wrapped on Last Curonian Cow, a short fiction film written and directed by Lithuanian filmmaker Dovydas Drakšas. Set in Lithuania’s distinctive Curonian Spit, the film has been selected for SHORT RIGA Test Screenings, the industry programme of the Riga International Film Festival, taking place on 24 October 2026.
The film tells the story of a place caught between seasonal rhythms and inevitable change. As the summer season draws to a close and tourists catch the last rays of sunshine on the Curonian Spit, Juzė, the last remaining cow in the area, embarks on a journey through a land that is becoming increasingly alien to her, silently resisting an inevitable farewell.
Shot by cinematographer Tamás A. Méder across the Neringa region, including the iconic dunes of Nida, the film explores the changing relationship between people and place, reflecting on the impact of mass tourism on the natural environment and the gradual disappearance of familiar ways of life.
From Baltic Pitching Forum and European Short Pitch to SHORT RIGA
The project’s journey began at Baltic Pitching Forum 2025, where Last Curonian Cow received two awards recognising its artistic vision and international potential.
The project was awarded the Baltic Producers MEDIA Award by a jury of Baltic producers.
Last Curonian Cow also received the inaugural SHORT RIGA Test Screenings Award, established by the Riga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF). The prize invited the project to participate in SHORT RIGA Test Screenings in 2026.
SHORT RIGA coordinator Lauma Kaudzīte described the project as the work of an emerging filmmaker who boldly explores the relationship between people and the land. She praised its poetic and subtle vision, which captures both broader societal changes and intimate, fleeting moments, as well as the filmmaker’s distinctive cinematic language and the strong connection it creates with audiences.
Last Curonian Cow was also selected and participated in European Short Pitch 2026 programme, among 12 outstanding European projects.
An emerging voice in Lithuanian cinema
Dovydas Drakšas is a Lithuanian writer-director and graduate of the London Film School. His latest short film, Praeis, premiered in the La Cinef selection of the 77th Cannes Film Festival and has screened at numerous international festivals.
The film is produced by Greta Akcijonaitė, Ramojus Petrauskas and Aurimas Pukevičius for Lithuanian production company Magic Film, with Olivier Berlemont from Origine Films serving as co-producer and sales agent.
The film has already been acquired by ARTE, the European cultural television network, ahead of its anticipated premiere in 2027.
Production of Last Curonian Cow is partially funded by the Lithuanian Film Centre and Neringa Municipality.
